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BrufordFreak 
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 Topic: XTC Big Express
Posted: February 20 2018 at 10:21 |
XTC was, for me, one of the few brightly shining lights throughout the 1980s. This quirky, creative, and idiosyncratic yet desperately-under-rated album was like a Godsend of manna for my proggy soul. I wish the PA colony would accept and embrace these amazingly creative artists. (One member, Dave Gregory, is a member: as part of BIG BIG TRAIN.)
From the many favorites I have, I voted for:
I Remember the Sun>This World Over>Seagulls Screaming>Wake Up>Train Running Low>Reign of Blows>You're the Wish>Liarbird>Shake You Donkey Up>Smalltown>Pretty Girls
Edited by BrufordFreak - February 20 2018 at 10:22
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Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/
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Mortte
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Location: Finland
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Posted: February 20 2018 at 11:04 |
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XTC has been one of those bands that has interested me a long, but just recently started to listen them. This far Drums and Wires is my favourite. Not yet listened the Big Express. Other band from the same period has been the Stranglers, I have had only Black and White, but now listened their other albums and found them also really interesting.
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hellogoodbye
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Posted: February 20 2018 at 11:14 |
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Strange, but I listen to XTC again these days. The Express is Excellent, but I prefer English Settlement, Oranges and lemons and Skylarking.
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BrufordFreak
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Posted: February 20 2018 at 13:34 |
 hellogoodbye wrote:
Strange, but I listen to XTC again these days. The Express is Excellent, but I prefer English Settlement, Oranges and lemons and Skylarking. |
These are my three favorites as well, I just want to try to draw attention to the genius of other, under-appreciated albums like this one and Mummer.
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Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/
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hellogoodbye
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Posted: February 20 2018 at 14:16 |
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Yeah. Mummer is fine too. Love Human Alchemy.
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Lewian
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Joined: August 09 2015
Location: Italy
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Posted: February 20 2018 at 18:42 |
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Hmm, never really got into XTC. I like their approach and can appreciate their creativity and skill, but not much of their music really moves me. They're somehow like nephews of 10cc, aren't they? I like the screaming seagulls.
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BrufordFreak
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Posted: February 20 2018 at 18:51 |
Lewian wrote:
Hmm, never really got into XTC. I like their approach and can appreciate their creativity and skill, but not much of their music really moves me. They're somehow like nephews of 10cc, aren't they? I like the screaming seagulls.
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No, but they're cousins thrice removed from Tim Smith/The Cardiacs and great uncles to Richard Wileman/Karda Estra. 
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Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/
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chopper
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Posted: February 21 2018 at 02:41 |
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This album gets a bit of stick on XTC FB groups but I like it. I'm going to have to think about this one, not really sure which is my favourite, although I have a liking for the one about shaking a donkey.
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chopper
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Posted: February 21 2018 at 02:43 |
BrufordFreak wrote:
I wish the PA colony would accept and embrace these amazingly creative artists. (One member, Dave Gregory, is a member: as part of BIG BIG TRAIN.)
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Dave Gregory also plays in Tin Spirits, but that's not enough. As much as I love XTC, they are not a prog band in any shape or form.
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HolyMoly
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Joined: April 01 2009
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Posted: February 21 2018 at 05:37 |
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Wake Up is my favorite on this one. Those ping-pong guitars in the intro are so cool.
I always seem to love Colin’s songs. He only gets 2-3 per album usually, but they’re always good.
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My other avatar is a Porsche
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased.
-Kehlog Albran
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hellogoodbye
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Posted: February 21 2018 at 06:37 |
Andy Partridge is Ray Davies hidden child. 
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Guldbamsen
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Posted: February 21 2018 at 09:01 |
Still to hear this album, but I am down with Skylarking and English Settlement. I think Steve (HolyMoly) was the one that got me into these cats...or maybe I just copied one of his updates in the 'what albums did you listen to today' thread. Always nice to find people with similar tastebuds  I think I will be spinning Skylarking tonight actually.
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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
- Douglas Adams
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dr wu23
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Posted: February 21 2018 at 15:55 |
XTC,,,,a brilliant pop rock band......Big Express is probably my least favorite by them.....I'll go with This World Over....always liked that one. As Bruford Freak mentioned....English... Skylarking...and Oranges are also my favorite and probably their best....though there are absolutely wonderful clever pop rock on all of their albums. IMHO.....a band that needs to be represented in anyone's serious music collection.
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One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin
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hellogoodbye
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Posted: February 22 2018 at 00:39 |
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I'll add Nonsuch and Apple Venus Vol 1. Not perfect but still great. Many good songs can be heard in the Andy Partridge's demos and unreleased tracks : Fuzzy Warbles, at least Vol 1,2,3 & 4.
The Partridge's imitation of Robert Smith, Morrissey and Dylan is irresistible.
Starting at 3'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qVC8qujBdw
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miamiscot
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Posted: February 22 2018 at 08:27 |
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The Big Express is my least favorite XTC album and it's still awesome!!!
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Rednight
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Posted: February 22 2018 at 12:03 |
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Haven't heard this one but will admit XTC has a deep bench.
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"It just has none of the qualities of your work that I find interesting. Abandon [?] it." - Eno
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LearsFool
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Posted: February 23 2018 at 00:04 |
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Definitely "Wake Up".
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Mortte
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Posted: March 07 2018 at 04:30 |
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Just listened English Settlement, it was ok, but at the moment I am really not interested good English pop as it was. My question is to you who are listened much XTC, should I go forward in their albums? I mean does they continue that softer style after E S, or are there any albums more to their earlier style?
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irrelevant
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Posted: March 07 2018 at 05:04 |
My least favourite XTC album with Dave Gregory involved; still pretty
good though, just no 5 star tracks. I went with "Reign of Blows", but
"Shake You Donkey Up" and "Wake Up" are as damn fine too.
Mortte wrote:
Just listened English Settlement, it was ok, but at the moment I am really not interested good English pop as it was. My question is to you who are listened much XTC, should I go forward in their albums? I mean does they continue that softer style after E S, or are there any albums more to their earlier style? |
If you were underwhelmed by English Settlement, Mummer might be a skipper. The Big Express however might be of interest to you, as it's their last 'post-punky' sort of album; more like Black Sea than English Settlement. Everything after The Big Express goes into relatively smoother, mellower territory, and then there's more great albums!
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Mortte
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Joined: November 11 2016
Location: Finland
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Points: 5538
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Posted: March 07 2018 at 05:10 |
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^Thanx! I liked more Drums & Wires than Black Sea, but I will try Big Express.
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XTC Big Express
